PIONEERS' PORTRAITS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 63, 1 August 1912, Page 6

PIONEERS' PORTRAITS.

To the Editor

Sir,—Herewith I beg to enclose a lettor I have received from Mr. W. H. Skinner, and which was considered by the Carnegie Institute . Committee at its last meeting. It has been decided fro proceed right away with the collection of photos as suggested, and, when as nearly complete as possible, the committee proposes having them bound in album form, grouped under the names of the ships by which the settlers came. To this end I shall be glad to receive communications from these pioneers or their immediate descendants, so that the collection shall contain, in addition to the photos, biographical sketches of .particular interest to this district. Mr. Black, secretary of the Veterans' Association, has already promised his assistance in the matter, and there are doubtless numbers of settlers who will be only too anxious to assist the committee.—l am, etc.,

PERCY J. H. WHITE,

Chairman, Carnegie Institute Committee,

Blenheim, N.Z., May 20, 1912.

J The Chairman, N.P. Librarv Committee. I am sending with this a photo of John Guard, who was cast away as a child in the wreck of the Harriet, on the Taranaki coast in 1834 (see particulars at back of photo). This event is so intertwined with the very early European history of Taranaki ' that I have thought it desirable to procure a photo of the only survivor of that thrilling incident of our past history, for deposit amongst the local records in the Carnegie Library. I think this would be ail excellent opportunity of making a j start with an idea I have long had under | consideration, that is of gathering to- , getliei, as far as it is possible so to do ■ photographs or pictures of the pioneers if ,}. rana ' cl > which will be depojsited in the library building as part of the TaranaJu early history collection, which, has, been gradually forming, and is now be-' coming a valuable asset to the town and, district, Briefly, my suggestions as to the proposal are: (1) The term "pioneer" would embrace all those who arrived in the district prior to 1800 (if thought advisable this date could be extended to ISOo, which would cover the-advent or the military contingents; (2) that so far as possible the photos should be arranged in groups or in albums under the names of the different ships by which those represented arrived; (3) that the collection should include likenesses of well-known Maoris, such as, for.example, Poharama, chief of Moturoa, so well and favorably known by the early settlers the protector of tile early settlement who on more than one occasion, saved old New Plymouth from its threatened destruction by the turbulent Puketapu, led by Ivatatore. As for the means of gathering m these photos, etc T would suggest first of all an appeal' through the press to all the descendants of the pioneers to assist in making the collection as complete as possible. Many' will not, naturally, care to part' with probably the only likeness of a parent oi grandparent in their possession, but to these I would suggest that a copy be ■ made which could be presented to'the library, they to retain the original your committee, and I hope the general public if the suggestion appeal,? to them will doubtless have suggestions to offer' improving and enlarging on what I have briefly laid before you in this letter , lhe main point, however, is to make a start with the collection with the least possible delay, and before it is too late 1 know for certain that scores of photos do exist taken for the best part in the m r L y i Slxtles and late by Tuff in Webster, Heby, and Houdin, of the early settlers. Trusting my suggestions wiil meet with the approval of your committee,—l have, etc., W. If. SKINNER.